Ammi and Martina Burke, the mother and sister of jailed schoolteacher Enoch Burke, are challenging a High Court ruling that found them guilty of criminal contempt of court, reports Breaking News.
Both women served a two-week prison sentence earlier this month after Judge Brian Cregan determined they were in contempt due to their conduct during a court hearing in February, reports Breaking News.
The judge said their behaviour involved “roaring and shouting” and “intense and venomous” interruptions, describing it as a “paradigmatic” example of contempt.
At the Court of Appeal on Friday, Ammi told Judge Senan Allen that they were appealing Cregan’s ruling which found them guilty of criminal contempt, reports Breaking News.
They stated that their appeal is based on several grounds, including an alleged lack of impartiality by the judge.
Ammi also argued that issues of fair procedures arose, pointing out that they were not given a digital audio recording of the February hearing, reports Breaking News.
The judge indicated he would set aside a date in July to hear the appeal.
The February hearing concerned Enoch’s challenge to the composition of a disciplinary panel set up to consider his appeal against his dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, reports Breaking News.
In May 2023, Judge Alexander Owens ruled that the school in Co Westmeath had lawfully suspended Enoch from his teaching role and later ordered that he be barred from attending the school premises.
The school suspended—and subsequently dismissed—Enoch over his behaviour towards then-principal Niamh McShane at a school religious event in June 2022, reports Breaking News.
The dispute arose after McShane had asked teachers to address a student by a new name and use the pronouns “they” and “them”. Enoch, an evangelical Christian, has maintained that complying with this request conflicted with his religious beliefs.
Enoch has repeatedly breached the court order requiring him to stay away from the school and is currently being held at Castlerea Prison for contempt of court. He has spent more than 600 days in prison across separate periods, reports Breaking News.
Next week, the Court of Appeal is due to hear Enoch’s application to lodge a late appeal challenging Judge Owens’ order, reports Breaking News.
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